The First Lady of Cross River State, Bishop (Mrs) Eyoawan Otu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to addressing the injustices faced by widows and orphans due to harmful cultural and religious practices.
Speaking through the Programme Manager of Humanity Without Borders, Mr. Geoffrey Agamade, at the 2025 International Widows’ Day commemoration in Calabar, the First Lady assured attendees that mechanisms were being activated to tackle societal discrimination and economic exploitation of widows and orphans.
“Our state is working assiduously to mitigate the multifaceted challenges confronting vulnerable widows and orphans in Cross River,” she said. “We cannot afford to remain aloof while widows are subjected to dehumanising treatments under the guise of cultural and religious practices.”
Mr. Agamade disclosed that a dedicated database had been developed to support intervention programmes aimed at enhancing self-reliance and job creation among widows.
In her opening remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, decried the level of neglect and deprivation faced by widows and orphans, particularly at the hands of “greedy and heartless in-laws.” She called for sustained awareness campaigns and effective implementation of protective laws already in existence.
“Thankfully, we have laws specifically crafted to protect spouses in the event of death. What remains is aggressive enforcement and advocacy,” she emphasized.
President of the Unified Widows Foundation, Mrs. Uduak Spencer, applauded the First Lady’s unwavering support, highlighting several economic initiatives that have positively impacted the lives of vulnerable widows and street children.
“We are deeply grateful to the governor and his dear wife for their tremendous assistance and for prioritising the welfare of widows and vulnerable children,” Spencer stated.
In her contribution, Akpevwe Okuse of Her Voice Foundation condemned the ordeals suffered by widows and orphans, stressing the need for collective societal efforts to end such inhuman treatment.
“Our core mission is to amplify the voices of the vulnerable and draw urgent attention to their plight,” she said.
In goodwill messages, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and ex-President of the National Council of Women Societies, Rev. Mrs. Grace Ekanem, urged the government to introduce vocational training programmes to help widows gain financial independence.
Other speakers, including Programme Manager of Girls Power Initiative, Ndodeye Bassey, and Roslyn Otu-Amgrafunu, advocated for multi-stakeholder collaboration and strict enforcement of relevant laws to curb abuses.
Meanwhile, the Cross River chapter of the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) offered free legal services to widows and orphans unjustly deprived of their inheritance.
FIDA Chairperson Affiong Onung Esq who spoke assured that the pro bono initiative aims to assist financially disadvantaged individuals in seeking justice and protecting their rights through the courts.
The International Widow’s Day celebration in Cross River State themed the Orphans in Need was facilitated by the UN Women.